Steam-separator



(No Model.)

0. MQBAUM. STEAM SEPARATOR.

No. 579,377. Patented Mar. 23, 1897.

In vemror.

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NITE stares Parent since,

CLARENCE M. BAUM, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAMHSEPARATUR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 579,377, dated March23, 1897.

Application filed January '7, 1896. Serial No. 574,630. (No model.)

To all whom, if; Hui/y concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARENCE M. BAUM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Steam-Separators, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention consists of certain improve ments in the steam-separatorfor which I obtained Letters Patent No. 515,105, dated February 20,1894, the object of my present improvement being to render theseparation of the water, oil, die, from the steam more complete thanbefore, an object which I attain by so constructing the device as toprevent liquid particles from splashing back into or crossing the ilowof the current of steam, thus obviating what has heretofore been adrawback to the efficiencylof steam-separators in general.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section of asteam-separator constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is asectional plan view on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transversesection 011 the line 3 3, Fig. 2; and Figs. 4, 5, (i, and 7 are viewsillustrating modifications of part of the invention.

The casing of the separator comprises the upper portion A and the lowerportion A, both of which are of preferably spherical form, the twoportions of the casing being joined by a short neck, and in the upperportion of the casing A are opposite flanged openings a, to which aresecured the flanges I), carried, respectively, by the pipes B and B.

The interior of the upper portion of the casing A of the separator isdivided into two chambers D and D by a partition structure E, whichextends from the top to the bottom of the casing A and across theopening of the neck, said partition being arch-like in crosssection, asshown in Fig. 2, and terminating in straightwalled terminations (Z,which extend at right angles to the longitudinal line of the separatorand are united to the casin g A.

In the bottom of the chamber D of the upper portion of the casingA andaffording free communication through the neck with the lower chamber Fis the opening 1 On the convex portion of the before-mentionedarch-shaped partition structure E are formed a series of blades or ribsf, which propresented by said blades.

ject radially from the convexcurve of the said structure and arepreferably tapered from their bases outward, as shown in Fig. 2, and

similar ribs or blades g are formed upon the the latter serving as areservoir for the ac-.

cuinulation ot' the liquid in excess of such flow, the aim being to soregulate the flow that there will always be more or less liquid in thechamber F in order to prevent the blowing off of steam.

The steam, loaded with water, oil, &c., entering the separator throughthe inlet-opening a is brought forcibly in contact with the ribs orblades projecting from the rounded end of the partition structure E, andowing to the angles at which these radially projecting blades or ribsare disposed in respect to the natural course of the incoming current ofsteam water, &c., no abutting surface directly opposed to the line ofincoming flow is Hence liquid particles striking the same are directedinward toward the bases of the blades, and consequently are not causedto splash or be thrown backward into the onflowiug volume of steam, asis the case when the latter is thrown directly against an abuttingsurface at right angles to the line of flow. By reason of thisconstruction, therefore, the liquid is separated from the steam morereadily and eitectively than in prior devices with which I am familiar.The main separating action iseftected by the radially-projecting bladesor ribs on the rounded or convex surface of the partition E of theseparator, as these blades, with the rounded or convex surface to whichthey are attached, receive the steam when it first enters the separator,and consequently is most heavily loaded with water, oil, we. The steamthus deprived of its extraneous matter flows around the projectingblades or ribs fit-hrough the passages between the outer ends of thesaid blades and the casing A, and impinges against the blades or ribs 9and the lateral Walls 61, said blades and lateral walls effecting thecomplete separation of any remaining liquid particles. The purifiedsteam finally passes through the ports or openings 77, into the chamberD and thence through outletpipe B. The liquid separated from the steamin the chamber D falls by gravity through the opening 2' into thereceiving-chamber F, and any steam condensing in the chamber D willlikewise reach the chamber F through the small opening 70, formed in thebottom of the casing of said chamber.

The openings 72. are confined to the upper portion of the partitionstructure E, so that only the lightest and consequently dryest steam canpass through the separator.

Various modifications of the deflecting-surface and its projecting ribsmay be adopted without departing from the main features of my invention.For instance, the ribsfmay project directly forward from thedeflectingsurface toward the inlet-opening, as shown in Fig. 4, insteadof projecting radially, as shown in Fig. 2, and the deflecting-surfacemay be used without the addition of side walls on, as also shown in saidfigure. The shape of the deflecting-surface may also be varied, ifdesired, Fig. 5 showing a deflecting-surface of reversely-inclined formhaving forwardlyprojecting ribs and presenting its apex to the incomingflow of steam, while Fig. 6 shows a deflector of like form having ribsprojecting therefrom at right angles to the opposite inclined surfacesof the deflector, and Fig. 7 shows a deflector in which the ribs joineach other at the bases. In all cases, however, the deflector is such asto divide the incoming flow of steam, so as to direct part of it to oneside of the casin g and part to the oth er,thereby enabling me to usecomparatively narrow channels for the flow of steam and tocorrespondingly contract the size of the casing of the separator.

In my previously-patented separator I used a deflector which divided theincoming flow of steam, but the face of said deflector was not ribbed.Hence liquid particles forcibly projected against it by the steam werelikely to flow around the deflectorand to be projected across the pathof the escaping steam where the latter flowed around the ends of thedefiector, a result which is effectually obviated by providing thedeflector with ribs of the character shown in the drawings, for theseribs catch and retain the liquid particles projected against them by thesteam, and as the ribs are upright they direct these liquid particles tothe bottom of the deflector, so that once having left the flow of steamthey are never again brought into contact with it in such a way as to becaught up and carried forward. There is also a class of separatorsthrough which the steam flows vertically instead of laterally and inwhich vertical deflectors with transversely-ribbed surfaces are used,but in such separators the steam, in order to escape, is compelled topass through the volumes of liquid flowing from the bottom of thedeflector. Hence a large percentage of said liquid is again caught upand carried off by the steam.

Vithout claiming broadly, therefore, a separator having a ribbeddeflector interposed in the path of the steam, I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. A steam-separator having lateral inlet andoutlet for the steam, and a deflectorpresenting a convex or divergingface located so as to divide the incoming flow of steam, said deflectorbeing provided with projecting ribs or blades disposed as described inrespect to the line of flow of the steam, whereby liquid particlescontained in the latter will be caught by the ribs and directed to theoutlet without crossing the flow of steam in its escape, substantiallyas specified.

2. A steam-separator having lateral inlet and outlet for the steam, anda deflector presenting a convex or diverging portion to the incomingsteam and provided with projecting ribs or blades on its convex ordiverging faces whereby the liquid particles are caught and directed tothe outlet without crossing the flow of escaping steam, substantially asspecified.

3. A steam-separator having lateral inlet and outlet for the steam, anda deflector presenting a convex or diverging face to the in coming flowof steam and having on each side of the center ribs or blades projectingtherefrom at a right angle to the face from which they project, wherebythey are adapted to catch the liquid particles projected by the steam,and to direct the same to the outlet without crossing the flow ofescaping steam, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CLARENCE M. BAUM.

IVitnesses:

MURRAY 0. BOYER, Jos. II. KLEIN.

